Michael R. Chellis is one of the founding shareholders of Bateman Seidel Miner Blomgren Chellis & Gram, P.C. Prior to forming the new firm, Mike was a partner at Preston Gates & Ellis LLP for 16 years, including three as the managing partner of the Portland office.

Education & Credentials
J.D., University of Oregon School of Law, 1979; Associate Editor, Oregon Law
Review
LL.M,(taxation) New York University School of Law, 1986
B.S., with highest honors, Portland State University, 1976

Bar Admissions
OregonWashington

A graduate of the New York University graduate program in taxation, Mike's practice is largely divided between two areas: Tax credits (including the low-income housing tax credit, the rehabilitation credit, and the new markets tax credit) and federal and state tax issues relating to partnerships, real estate transactions and business acquisitions.

Affordable Housing and Tax Credits

Over the last 15 years, Mike has served as counsel with respect to affordable housing projects in many of the fifty states. He has represented syndicators, investors, developers and governmental agencies including serving as tax counsel to the Washington State Housing Finance Commission, the allocation agency for the state of Washington. His experience spans both routine and complex transactions, including mix-use and mixed-income developments, HOPE VI and other mixed finance projects, FHA-insured financing, and projects combining the low income housing and historic preservation tax credits.

Mike has provided advice with respect to numerous new markets tax credit projects. He has advised community development entities, investors and community businesses in new markets tax credit transactions and has assisted them in bringing investments to low-income communities in Oregon, Washington, and various other states. Mike has assisted a successful California new markets tax credit applicant with respect to its initial organizational structure and offering documentation.

Partnership, Real Estate, and Corporate Business Transactions

Mike has also counseled a variety of large and small business enterprises in connection with partnership structure and tax planning, real estate transactions, including tax free exchanges under Section 1031 of the Code, and corporate acquisitions, mergers and reorganizations. He has assisted both domestic and foreign clients in planning partnership ventures to acquire and develop U.S. real estate. In addition, he has assisted both acquiring and target entities in structuring, negotiating, and closing both taxable and tax-free acquisitions and reorganizations.

Among his other activities, he is the author of a number of tax-related publications. These publications include "Federal Income Taxation of Corporate Liquidations," "Installment Sales of Real Estate," and "Income Taxation of Real Estate Transactions." He has also co-authored a publication for the Oregon State Bar entitled "Foreign Investment in U.S. Real Estate."